I've just completed my full field test of this lens. Here's the "Executive Summary": The AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR is a significant and worthwhile upgrade from its predecessor. It's an incredibly versatile lens that will meet most of the needs for many, many nature and wildlife photographers.

Solid optical quality throughout the entire focal range; very "hand-holdable

Just acceptable build quality; horrendous tripod collar; poorly designed hood

"With some financial trepidation, I explored the internet reviews of this lens and decided to buy it in the late fall of 2013. I am not disappointed!! On a photo shoot in Cuba, it performed superbly in capturing birds and para-sailers.

I traded my 70-200 f 2.8mm lens for this new Nikon 80-400mm lens and in some way am a little disappointed with the decision, as the quality achieve with this lens despite what others may say, is still a mile off the quality you will be able to achieve with your prime lenses.

Considering that this opticis only a tad slower than the Nikkor 200-400mm f/4, with a drop of a stop when you zoom out, has a 5x zoom range, is lighter, and costs about half of the near $7000 price tag of the 200-400mm f/4, it is certainly worthy of consideration for those who can appreciate what it...

Back in 2000, Nikon introduced the original 80-400mm/f4.5-5.6 as their very first lens with vibration reduction (VR). While it was a technological break through for Nikon at the time, that lens does not have an internal auto-focus motor such that its AF speed is notoriously slow.

Of all the lenses in Nikon's range, their 80-400mm offering has been long overdue an update for quite some time. The old lens had a reputation for being slow slow and clunky. Thankfully this new lens couldn't easily be labelled as either of these thanks to the inclusion of a silent wave autofocus...

WOW ! I have been waiting YEARS for this lens.... Having owned the older "D" version 80-400mm for many years, this is what I have been waiting for. The older version was a great piece of glass except for the slow focus. Now that the lens has it`s own focus motor it is super fast and accurate.

The Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is a versatile and feature-packed premium-quality telephoto zoom

5x zoom range; Sophisticated VR system; High MTF results; Fringe-free images; Reliable AF system; Focus limiter; Weatherproof design; Tripod mounting collar

Rather heavy; Costly

As the Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR's £2500 list price suggests, there is a lot of technology packed into Nikon's latest telephoto zoom. With 20 elements (including four with ED glass and one with Super-ED glass), AF-S focussing, four-stop VR and technical test results that are consistently...

5x zoom range; Sophisticated VR system; High MTF results; Fringe-free images; Reliable AF system; Focus limiter; Weatherproof design; Tripod mounting collar

Rather heavy; Costly

Optically this lens is excellent, producing very sharp photos on both full-frame and sub-frame cameras even at wide-open apertures throughout the zoom range. Other image quality factors like chromatic aberration, distortion and vignetting were all well behaved and minimal.